Former Norristown police Chief Bono sworn in as Montgomery County sheriff

Judge Carolyn Carluccio swears in Russell Bono as Montgomery County Sheriff while his wife, Linda, holds the Bible in Norristown Wednesday, March 12, 2014. Photo by Adrianna Hoff/Times Herald Staff.

COURTHOUSE — A day after being confirmed in a unanimous vote at the state senate in Harrisburg, former Norristown police Chief Russell Bono was sworn in Wednesday as the sheriff of Montgomery County.

Bono, 63, had his wife, Linda, by his side as he repeated the oath given to him by Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Carluccio.

“It’s a wonderful occasion for the county and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department. It’s my honor to be able to do this for someone I consider a friend for quite a while now,” Carluccio said.

Pennsylvania state Rep. Mike Vereb (R-150th Dist.) delivered the paperwork that needed to be signed for Bono to take office. District Attorney Risa Ferman and county commissioners’ Chairman Josh Shapiro were also in the intimate crowd of well-wishers.

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“I’d like to thank everybody for coming,” Bono said. “This is really an honor for me to have the opportunity to be the sheriff of Montgomery County, and it certainly would not have happened without the help of other people in this room. I’m truly humbled and it’s a new beginning for me. I can’t wait to get started and have the opportunity to work with all of you.”

Shapiro said the county would not have been able to get a new sheriff as quickly without the help of Vereb.

“The fact that it happened as quickly as it did, I think is a testament to his strength in Harrisburg,” Shapiro said. “We had a good man that he was selling, and it’s a hard process. We look forward to having Russ here to work with.”

After former Sheriff Eileen Behr announced she would resign to take a job as the head of the Drexel University police in December, a search committee made up of Montgomery County Republicans, including county Commissioner Bruce Castor, ultimately decided to nominate Bono for the job. The county commissioners also endorsed him. The nomination was then was forwarded to Gov. Tom Corbett, who submitted it to the state Senate.